A company aiming to construct Canada’s inaugural commercial rocket launch pad in Nova Scotia has entered into an agreement with a German aerospace company, potentially enabling orbital launches by 2028. Maritime Launch Services Ltd., headquartered in Halifax, announced that Germany’s Isar Aerospace intends to establish a specialized facility for its Spectrum rocket at the Nova Scotia site near Canso on the Eastern Shore.
The Spectrum rocket is designed to transport small and medium satellites into space. Isar Aerospace, which has already set up its initial launch site in Norway, has formed a new Canadian subsidiary named Isar Aerospace Canada Inc.
Alexandre Dalloneau, Isar’s vice president of mission and launch operations, emphasized the critical role of launch capacity in defense and intelligence, stating that few nations possess the full capability to access space data independently. Canada, lacking the capacity for independent space launches, has traditionally depended on the United States for satellite deployment. Recognizing the importance of space launches, Ottawa has earmarked $183 million over three years in its 2025 budget to establish space launch capabilities, as outlined in the new defense industrial strategy.
In a significant development, the Canadian government signed a 10-year, $200 million lease agreement with Maritime Launch in March, enabling Canada to launch satellites into orbit without external assistance. This initiative aligns with the country’s strategic goal to enhance its sovereign capabilities. Maritime Launch’s project, known as Spaceport Nova Scotia, aims to provide launch infrastructure for commercial, civil, and defense clients, positioning it to become Canada’s premier commercial launch pad upon operationalization later this year.
Isar Aerospace plans to invest approximately $100 million as a tenant to prepare the launch pad, with construction slated to commence this year and space launches projected to start by 2028, ramping up to 40 launches annually by 2029. Under the 10-year deal, Isar will pay Maritime Launch $3.75 million US per quarter once the contract is fully operational.
The agreement was finalized by Maritime Launch CEO Stephen Matier in Turkey during a NATO defense industry summit. Matier revealed that three of the four launch pads being developed by the company have already been allocated to Isar, the federal government, and Montreal-based aerospace company Reaction Dynamics. Discussions are ongoing with potential clients for the remaining pad, with plans to reserve a fifth pad for future projects.
Canada’s recent decision to join NATO Starlift, a collaborative initiative to establish a space launch network facilitating prompt payload deployment by allied nations, underscores the importance of international cooperation in space endeavors. Matier emphasized the value of partnerships among NATO-allied countries in advancing space exploration efforts, emphasizing the collaborative nature of initiatives like NATO Starlift.
